Slide fastener



R. E. DE VORE SLIDE FASTENER Filed. Jan. 24, 19:55

E m v E I Patented Mar. -2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ori ice Joy Manufacturing Company, Franklin, Pa., a corporation of Delaware 1 Application January 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,357

' 11 Claims. (01. 24-205) This invention relates to fasteners of the type in which rows" of cooperating fastening elements are brought into interlocked relation and are separated through the operation of a slider which moves along such rows. I

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates a slider. of the type suggested having a deflecting plow located at the leading end of the slider and immediately below the adjacent fastening elements so as to'move out of the way, papers and other articles which might otherwise be caught between the rows of fastening devices, to the end that the drawing together of the fastening elements is facilitated.

- More specifically, the leading end of the deflecting plow will be found to extend straight across and approximately at right angles to the line of travel of the slider to points well under the adjacent fastener elements, so as to move out of the way articles which might otherwise be caught between. the fastener elements and in addition, as is important to observe, the said leading end -of the slider forms obtuse angles with the adjacent portions of the rows of fastener elements and thus avoids the creation of crotches in which papers or other articles maybe caught.

Another aspect of the invention has to do with a deflectingplow located at what might be said to be the trailing end'of the slider so that during the retraction of the slider for the obvious purpose of unhooking the fastener, the adjacent material, of whatever nature it happens to be, is moved out of the way and is thus prevented from interfering with free operation of the slider.

The arrangement herein disclosed contemplates a deflecting plow in which the forward end thereof is rolled or beaded, first, for easy and nondestructive contact with the adjacent material, and second, so that the same may contact the fastener elements with a minimum of resistance, particularly in cases where the slider is required to make sharpturns or bends, for example, at the corners of a brief case, or in following the contour of a persons' body, in which case the pressure contact of the deflecting plow with the fasteners is temporarily increased, all without reducing the ease with which the slider and the associatedfastening elements may be operated. Also, it will be found that the deflecting plow,

in addition to moving inward the material that would otherwise interfere with the bringing together of the fastening elements, the same is positioned-to lift or move outward those fastener elements that are immediately in advance of the slider or as might be otherwise expressed, the

material initially between the fasteners is moved in one direction and the fasteners are moved in the oppposite direction or outward therefrom to clear the fasteners preparatory to the union thereof with the result that the slider may be advanced 5 in a highly convenient and expeditious manner and without the annoyance that is so often due to the presence of protruding objects between the rows of fastening elements.

The invention forming the subject of this apl0 plication may be incorporated in a slide fastener of conventional or other design without material alteration in the design of such fasteners and without departure from established production methods. 15

Another aim of the invention is to provide a slide fastener of the character specified which is inconspicuous, durable, and which might be embodied in a slider with but a negligible increase in cost.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the application, and in which like numerals are employed .to designate like parts throughout 25 the same, 0

Figure 1 is a fragmentary edge elevation of a receptacle, possibly a brief case, having a slide fastener embodying'the invention, the slide fastener being partly open, 30

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 33-,of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective of a slider embodying 35 the invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective of the slider taken from the other side, 7

Figure 6 is a fragmen ary plan of a slide fastener embodying a m cation of the invention, I

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-l of Figure ,6,

Figure 8 is a perspective of a slider embodying another modification of the invention, 45

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a slide fastener embodying a further expression of the invention,

Figure 10 is a fragment'ry plan view of the matter shown in Figure 9, I 5

Figure 11 is a perspective of the slider featured in Figures 9 and 10. I

In the drawing, the numerals 5 designate rows of cooperating fastening devices or chains, having individual fastener elements 8 which, of 55 course, are provided with conventional or other interlocking means. Such rows of fastening devices are shown to have the customary attaching tapes by which the same may be attached to the 6 edges of an opening to be closed. The opening may be in a garment, a tent, a pocketbook, a brief case, a receptacle, or any of the numerous articles to which slide fasteners may be adapted. By way of example, the invention is shown in connection with a receptacle in the nature of a brief case iii.

The slider is designated by the numeral [2 and as shown in Figure 4 is provided with channels or runways I 4 which converge in a single passage for the fastener elements 8. Of course, as is well-known in this art, the slider provides a means by which the fastener elements are brought into interlocking relation and are separated.

As brought out in the opening paragraphs of this specification, it has been found that the articles immediately beneath the rows of fastening devices occasionally extend up between the spaced rows of fastening devices and interfere with the free advance of the slider. For example, in a brief case, papers sometimes project into the space between the fasteners, when separated, of course, and are chewed through the operation of the slider. Also, when the slider is used on a garment, the material immediately inward thereof or possibly the flesh of a person, becomes pinched between the rows of fastener elements and this, of course, is to be avoided without at the same time, forming other angles or crotches conducive to the pinching or squeezing of the adja cent material or flesh and to this end the slider shown herein will be found to have a deflecting plow 20. I I

As shown in Figure 4, the deflecting plow 20 extends forwardly from the underside of the 40 slider and has the forward terminal portion thereof beaded as indicated at 24 so as to define inwardly and outwardly directed material and fastener engaging ribs respectively. The ribs thus formed have smooth rounded surfaces for 45 sliding contact with protruding articles and the under surfaces of the fastener elements immediately above.

More particularly, the upwardly directed rib of the beaded forward end of the plow is shown 50 to'be inclined from points spaced laterally of the central line of the plow to define oppositely located shoulders which underlie andengage the adjacent fastener elements and which serve to definitely turn outward or lift these fastener ele- 55 ments in thedirection opposite-the material immediately below the fastener.

. It will be seen that the slope of the shoulders 25 has the effect of turning upward and outward the adjacent fastener elements, and in fact, the 60 inclination of these shoulders determines the extent to which the fastener elements are turned outward. In other words, the deflecting plow serves the dual purpose of moving inward the material 65 which would otherwise lodge between the rows of fastening elements and at the same time, turning outward the fastener elements immediately in advance of the slider, so as to allow such fastener elements to be brought easily 70 together.

It is important to observe that the deflecting plow 20 and more paritcularly, the extreme forwardportion thereof extends laterally beyond or outward of the adjacent fastener elements a dis- 75 tance ample to avoid engagement of the corners proximately at right angles to the line of travel of the slider and forms obtuse angles with the adjacent portions of the rows of fastener elements. By this arrangement, there is avoided the creation of acute angles or crotches or notches, in which material might lodge. If the leading portion of the deflecting plow were formed with a bowed forward portion as in the case of the patent to Rust, No. 1,886,123, there would be deflned highly objectionable pockets or notches conducive to the collection of material. A deflecting plow or guard which actually forms acute angles or crotches with the adjacent portions of the rows of fastening devices, defeats its purpose. The presence of notches or crotches immediately in advance of the slider actually encourages interference on the part of book leaves, clothing and other articles with the free operation of the slider.

As shown in Figure 2, the inclined shoulders of the deflecting plow 20 remain in constant sliding contact with the undersides of the fastener elements 8 and are rounded for easy operation, particularly where the slider is caused to make a turn. It has been found that a slider equipped with the herein disclosed deflecting plow makes relatively sharp turns with great ease, the shoulders of the plow remaining at all times in smooth sliding contact with the undersides of the fastener elements. Of course, when the slider is required to make a turn, the pressure contact between the plow and the fastener elements is temporarily increased but it has been found in actual practice that this does not add in an appreciable way to the effort required for movement of the slider.

It is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 that a deflecting plow extends rearwardly from the underside of the trailing or rear end of the slider and has the rear terminal portion thereof beaded as indicated at 35. The beaded portion defines an inwardly directed rib which will be found to have a smooth rounded surface for sliding contact with protruding objects. In this way, the objects encountered by the beaded portion 35 are moved out of the way and are prevented from interfering with free retraction of the slider.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figures 6 and 7, the slider is designated by the numeral 50 and is formed with a main passage having diverging branches which, as is well-known in the art,

I provide for the bringing together and the separation of the fastener elements of the complemental rows.

It is clearly illustrated in Figure 7 that the forward portions of the diverging passages through the slider are turned or tilted upward and outward at the inner portions thereof at acute angles, possibly 45". "This transverse tilting of the slider branches has the effect of turning the fastener elements therein and immediately in advance of the slider upward and outward away from the material beneath the slider.

In explaining just why the fastener elements immediately in advance of the slider are turned outward, it is pointed out that the fastener elements are rigidly secured to the inner edge portions of the associated tapes close enough to each other to have the effect of stiffening the adjacent portions of the tapes. Hence, when the fastener elements and the portions of the tapes within the diverging passages of the slider are turned outv 2,072,200 ward, the fastener elements immediately in ad vance of the slider will also be turned outward.

In other words, there is a cooperation between the slider and the adjacent portions of the tapes looking to the outward turning of the fastener elements immediately in advance of the slider.

Of course, the slider shown in Figures 6 and 7 is equipped with a deflecting plow which may be similar to the plow 20 so that the protruding material of whatevernature it happens to be, is moved inward while the slider itself is provided with means to turn outward the fastener elements and thus establish positive clearance for the free bringing together of the fastener elements which might otherwisev become entangled with projecting objects.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figure 8, the slider 60 is of the same general construction as the slider shown in Figures 1 to 5 except that the beaded forward terminal portion 64 of the plow has a straight upper surface as distinguished from the sloping shoulders so prominently featured in Figure 4.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figures 9 and is shown to be formed with a fastener passage having converging branches to bring together and to separate the fastener elements of the complemental rows.

In this form of invention, the outer or open terminal portions of the branches of the slider are turned upwardly and outwardly at approximately 90 or perpendicular to the plane of the slider. By this arrangement, the fastener elements encountered by the converging branches of the slider are turned outward with the result that the slide fasteners immediately in advance of the slider are also turned outward approximately the same extent away from the material, of whatever nature it happens to be, immediately inward of the rows of fastener elements.

In addition, the slider 10 is formed with a defleeting plow 14 extending an appropriate distance beyond the slider and positioned for lifting engagement with the inner surfaces of the fastener elements'so as to cooperate with the'twlst of the branches of the slider in turning the fastener elements outward. Of course, as in the case of the plow 20, the forward or leading portion of 50 the plow may be headed first for the purpose of moving protruding objects inward away from the fastener elements and the advancing slider and second to cooperate with the twisted branches of the slider in turning the adjacent fastener ele- 55 ments outward or away from the material beneath the slide fastener.

In the form of invention shown in. Figures 9 and 10 the plow I4 has the upper surface there of straight as distinguished from having sloping 60 shoulders such as are indicated by the numeral in Figure 4.

Having thus described the invention what is .claimed is: v

1. In a slide fastener, rows of cooperating fas- 65 tener elements, a slider having means to drawthe fastener elements of the cooperating rows into lnterdigitating relation and to separate thedraw the fastener elements of the cooperating 75 rows into interdigitating relation and to separate and 10, the slider is designated by the numeral Ill slider and having a leading portion extending beneath the rows of fastener elements at obtuse angles to the adjacent portions of said rows, said deflecting plow being provided with means engaging and lifting the fastener elements immediately beyond the slider.

3. In a slide fastener, rows of cooperating fastener elements, and a slider having means to draw the fastener elements of the cooperating rows into interdigitating relation and to separate the same, and a deflecting plowcarried by the slider and having a leading portion extending beneath the rows of fastener elements at obtuse angles to the adjacent portions of said rows, said deflecting plow being provided with inclined shoulders engaging and turning outward the fastener elements immediately beyond the slider.

4. In a fastener for use in connection with flexible rows of cooperating fastener elements, a slider having means to draw the fastener elements of the cooperating rows into interdigitating relation and to separate the same, and a deflecting plow carried by the slider and having a straight leading portion extending entirely across the space between and beneath the rows of fastener elements in advance of the slider and being disposed at angles to the adjacent portions of said rows greater than right angles.

' 5. In a fastener of the type having flexible rows of cooperating fastener elements, a slider having diverging channels for the reception and passage of the fastener elements, and a deflecting plow carried by the slider and having a leading portion extending above the plane of the bottom of said channels and beneath the fastener elements in lifting association therewith to raise the same and extending in a straight line substantially at right angles to the line of travel of the slider.

6. In a fastener of the type having flexible rows of cooperating fastener elements, a slider having means to draw the fastener elements of the same, and a deflecting plow carried by the the cooperating rows into interdigitating relation and to separate the same, and a deflectingplow carried by the slider and having a leading portion extending beneath the fastener elements and in constant engagement therewith and extending on. a substantially straight line at right angles to the line of travel of the slider, and a second deflecting plow carried by the slider and projecting beyond the rear end thereof.

'7. In a slider for use in connection with rows of cooperating fastening elements, a body having means to bring together and to separate rows of fastener elements, and a deflecting plow extending beyond-one end of the slider and having a bead defining inwardly and outwardly directed ribs, the inwardly directed rib being projected beneath the surface of the plow for enement with objects inward of thefastener elements while the outer rib is extended outwardly of the outer surface of the plow for sliding engagement with the fastener elements immediately in advance of the slider to turn outward such fastener elements.

'8. The construction set forth in claim 7, said slider being provided with means therein cooperating with said outwardly directed rib to turn outward the fastening elements immediately-in advance thereof.

9. In a slide fastener, rows of cooperating fastener elements, and a slider having means to draw the fastener elements of the cooperating rows into interdigitating relation and to separate the same, and a deflecting plow carried by the slider and having a leading portion extending beneath the rows of fastener elements'and formed with inclined shoulders engaging and turning outward the fastener elements immediately beyond the slider.

' 10. In a slider for use in connection with rows of cooperating fastener elements for attachment to'an article, a longitudinally movable sl ider body having a passage formed with diverging branches, said branches being provided with means for turning the fastener elements entering the slider and immediately in advance of the slider outwardly with respect to the line of travel of the slider and in a direction away from the article to which the fastener elements are at tached, and a deflecting plow carried byIthe slider and having a leading portion extending above the plane of the bottom of said branches and beneath the rows of fastener elements in lifting association therewith.

11. A fastener of a type having flexible rows of cooperating fastener elements, a slider having diverging channels for the reception and passage 

